Spooner's Cove, Montana de Oro State Park

Description

Spooner's Cove is a rugged, beautiful beach in Montana de Oro State Park. It is free to drive around Montana de Oro State Park and explore the beaches and hikes. A canopy of marvelous trees arches overhead as you drive along and you truly feel that you are on the open road. It's just a short drive from Los Osos to get to Spooner's Cove and you are rewarded with wonderful, wild nature. There are slanted rock formations you can climb to watch the waves crash below. Sometimes, the beach is covered in a diverse collection of rocks and old sea glass. Hopeful people search through the colorful bits trying to find treasure. One man told us he sold a few pieces of old sea glass to a jeweler for $300. Fisherman's tale or truth? We'll never know. But it's fun to watch the people diligently scour the beach.The sound of the ocean as it rushes up over the rocks and pulls back is lovely. The ranch house across from the beach was used by the Pecho family who had a dairy farm in 1892. The cove is named after Spooner, one of the original owners of these lands. Another man, Hazard, planted the hundreds of eucalpytus trees hoping to sell them for lumber, though they didn't prove suitable for commercial sale. The state of California has owned these lands since 1965 and luckily still does, despite Governor Schwarzneggar's proposal to close this reserve as part of a deficit reduction proposal in 2008. Public outcry won out and now we all get to enjoy this delightful place.Spooner's Cove has three surf breaks, one known for its huge, dangerous waves and called South Point. There is also a large golden sand dune in Montana de Oro State Park.After running around in nature, you'll be thirsty or hungry. For a coffee in a serene setting, head over to Baywood Park Pier. For a fun place to eat dinner and hang out at a bookstore, head over to the Downtown Center in San Luis Obispo.

Directions

From Highway 101, exit at Los Osos Valley Rd. Head west on Los Osos Valley Rd for about 11 miles until it veers left becoming Pecho Valley Rd. Drive along through the forest for about 4 miles until you come to Spooner's Cove. There's a parking lot right by the beach.